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2025 Bird Banding

The Bill Teetz Bird Banding Station is open! The licensed banders will be at the station Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from now until Memorial Weekend banding the spring migration. It is open to the public from 7am-12pm with the banders going out every half hour to check nets. The station is located on Deephole Point Road between the photo blind and the gazebo. 

Groups over 10 people that are interested in going will need a Special Use Permit. Make sure to email Gabriela Youngken at gabriela_youngken@fws.gov to get the application. 

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2025 VA JDS Winners List

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Virginia Junior Duck Stamp. You can find the list here or at this link: https://www.fws.gov/media/2025-va-jds-winners-list.

Thank you to all the students who entered and congratulations! 

Twenty miles south of Washington, D.C., where the Potomac meets the Occoquan River, lies Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge: an oasis for migratory birds and busy city residents seeking a quiet escape from development.
Refuge Closed April 5 and 17

The refuge will be closed for half days on Saturday April 5 and Thursday April 17 for turkey hunts. The refuge will open at 1pm on these days. 

Visit Us

A blue dragonfly perched on a branch.
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There is so much to see at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, all year-round! Check out what our refuge has to offer before visiting, and be sure to prepare for the elements, so you can make the most out of your trip. See the link below to learn more about our rules and regulations and visiting the refuge.

Our Visitor Information Center is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm. 

Location and Contact Information

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    About Us

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    Learn more about our mission, purpose and history on our About Us page.

    What We Do

    Sunset over grasslands at Occoquan Bay NWR
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    Learn about our management practices, comprehensive conservation planning, research projects, and more on the What We Do page.

    Our Species

    A Prothonotary Warbler singing at Occoquan Bay NWR.
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    The diverse upland and wetland habitats of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge support a wide variety of resident and migratory wildlife, including over 200 species of birds, 79 species of butterflies, and 77 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies. Visit the link below to learn more about the species that call Occoquan Bay home!

    Get Involved

    Students examining specimens in a plastic tub at the rufge
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    Interested in getting involved with what we do at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge? Visit the link below to learn more.

    Projects and Research

    A solitary sandpiper walks in shallow water.
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    Management of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is focused primarily on protecting habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with help from dedicated volunteers, conducts several ongoing surveys to monitor the wildlife and vegetation on the refuge, and ensure the refuge is meeting its conservation goals.  Visit our Projects and Research page to learn more.